Yes I enjoyed your explanation very much, Thanks, I personally feel that some of this adding of stiffeners Is to do with bored ness and something to do When all else has been done to the car etc… But Your varied explanation was well received … And lastly Yes You summed it up perfectly “” it look’s good “”. I love tinkering with my MX I tinker with it more than I drive it. It’s my pleasure to have it outside of my door with my mind deciding what to do next My neighbours often remark on the way my MX5 is changing by the day… … Best regards from Ray Epping Essex
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Best regards back Sir!
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Talking of Colin Chapman Wasn’t he also credited with saying that a car needs to be short and wide ? I once bought a Lotus Turbo in 1982 and it held the road like a roller skate, My MX5 NC reminds me of that feeling of road grip that I remember of my Lotus Turbo… When I went to pick the lotus up after it’s service. Nigel Mansell was charging it around the Lotus test track at Ethel , I asked why he was driving my car (Not that I minded) and was told
“ oh he drops in and helps out with the servicing and putting the cars through their paces “ Lovely memories … Ray Epping Essex
Ps you wouldn’t get any of the top racing drivers doing that today !
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Are you selling them by any chance 
Any convertible with doors has its front and back wheels connected by just its floor, so rigidity is always going to be an issue.
Imho, the simplest, cheapest way to improve MX5 rigidity is to fit precision machined Delrin door bushes in place of the loose fitting standard bushes made of steel encased in rubber.
I was pleasantly surprised at the difference it made.
The suspension works better with the body flexing less, so I found turn in is sharper and the car feels more taught and secure through bumpy corners
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Good post. Full of recommendations , Thanks for your advices… I think I might already have these fitted or something very similar, keep safe you guys, Best regards from Ray. Epping Essex Club member…
If you have Delrin bushes already, that could explain why you’ve noticed no issues with rigidity.
Just tap one with your fingernail - if it feels hard, it’s not oem. If it feels soft, it is.
Dead easy to install, 2 bolts per side and couldn’t be easier to access.
Thanks for that info, actually I have a fellow MX5 owner coming around for a chat today I will look at both cars to see what we have got fitted, I know my one has some sort of a black block near both doors jamps … I hadn’t realised their importance Thanks. Best regards Ray Essex area Epping
Ok, I’ve just been out to do the fingernail test. They are soft ! Rubbery feel not hard plasticky feel !! Are they the good ones ? And do they have to be renewed every so often. I never do much milage I just polish my car most of the time That’s why it looks much wider than all the other MX5s So much wax on it !! … Best regards from Ray of Epping Forest area,
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MX5s typically don’t do very much mileage - maybe because the ‘other car’ is probably more comfy on a motorway.
The oem rubbery bushes do scuff and wear with time. Some people switch them side to side to even out the wear but for the sake of 25 quid, I would try the precision machined Delrin ones that actually fit tightly rather than loosely in the cups thus increasing overall rigidity.
You can get them Cobalt branded from Moss Europe and pay a crazy 8 quid postage on top or get them from Rob Bate like I did and pay the same price for free postage and new stainless bolts.
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Thanks again… 999to 5 … just had a visit from a new guy ( Andy ) He brought his brand new MK 4 around. WOW It was a real beauty. Darkest deepest blue with off white upholstery Stunning isn’t the right description It was awesome It had the lot, Andy thanks Andy for bringing it over to show me, First time I have ever had a good look at one up close, Best regards from Ray of Epping Essex…
Hi again everyone, Just had a visit from a new club member. He brought me his brand new MK 4. All I can say is “” fabulous “”. It was darkest deepest blue with off white upholstery Beautiful car in every respect … it had the lot… if you see this message Andy Thanks and Please enjoy that beauty A car like that is there to enjoy Best regards from Ray in Epping area essex
Sounds great, Where’s the photos?
Oh do you mean the car That I saw at my door today ? I Didn’t take photos of it My mobile phone is as old as me. It runs on coal ! It doesn’t take photos, I’m sure we will see more of this car in due course it belongs to a new member And incidentally I didn’t put MY advertising photos on. A member of the club did it for me bless his heart (IanC) I wouldn’t have a clue on how to put photos on these pages. Several people have tried to explain the procedure but at 80 I can’t quite grasp the method. It might seem easy to you lads but to me it goes way over my head … best regards from Ray Essex
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Your not the only one Ray… My neighbours walk by with their dogs every day and I’m sure they’d be concerned if I wasn’t doing some cleaning or polishing of my MX-5… Love driving it and love keeping it immaculate too…! It’s a healthy obsession 
Rob
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Yes Rob, I love cleaning it more than driving it these days… The few times I do pop out in it The top come down and the wind in my hair was priceless (Yes at 80 I’ve still got a full head of hair) … Thanks for your reply, Best regards from Ray from Essex
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And I never need an excuse to post a pic, though need to take some that I haven’t posted here before…!
Kind regards,
Rob
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Stunning car the MK4
However, In my personal opinion they leave the factory sitting a bit too high on their springs. They look truly awesome once lowered 30mm. It doesn’t sound much but it’s the best and correct drop to make them look ‘right‘
Best company ( according to where you live of course ) is Wheels in Motion ( W.I.M ) in Amersham, Joe is their expert on such things, he did my car whilst I went for a Long walk around the town. 4+ hours job done. Car then looked so different so ‘right ! 25mm spacer‘s looks the finished job… ps my MX was not a MK4 But the same applies … … Best from Ray Essex.
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Today I diligently followed the guide in the the Robs’ MX-5 restoration manual on how to replace the zip.
I found the plates that press to the rain rail were corroded, so had to paint them.
I found the panel that sits above the fuel tank severely rusted and had to paint it.
I discovered my car (which before I owned it had a new roof fitted) had a sewn on rain rail in addition to it being riveted.
At this point I gave up, and having made a bad bodge of the zip at my last attempt (I cut the zip through - not a good time back then for me and I think it shows) I found the new MX-5 zip doesn’t fit the custom hood, and a zip I found and tried while seeming to work eventually shattered into pieces on me.
So after re-fitting the newly painted parts, I put the car back together again with very little feeling of job satisfaction.
Then after a day of contorting myself round the enclosed space of an MX-5 interior with barely a scratch I then wrenched my shoulder and elbow moving a chair - oh the irony ! Least it’s easing off now…
It was a pleasure to meet you Ray. Your NC is a credit to you. We should have take a few photos of the two together, but here it is with its stable mate.
The photo doesn’t do the colour justice, when the sun is on it, it really shines. I’m having it ceramic coated next week, so I hope it really brings the colour out.
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